Picture constructor



PQ A. RONTEY AND R. TAYLOR.

PICTURE CONSTRUGTOR.

APPLICATION FILED ocr. 20, 1920.

l ,41 5,7 1 2 Patented May 9, 1922.'

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IN VENTUR ATTORNEYS v I/ZO P. A. RONIEY AND R. TAYLUR.

PICTURE CONSTRUCTOH.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 20,1920.

Patented May 9, 1922.

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%Zalwf l Sym@ n I /0 i Arron/vers UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PIERRE A. RON'TEY AND ROBERT TAYLOR.,` OF COSCOB, CGNNECTIC'UT.

PICTURE CONSTRUCTOR.

ble and which cooperate to :torni different pictures, an object-of the invention being 4to provide a device oli' the character' stated which is capable of a wide latitude in operation to form various pictures.

A further object 1s to provide a device of the character stated which is not only `amusing and entertaining, but which is educational and a developer of artistic qualities.

A further object is to provide `a device of the character stated which might be employed as a mental test and whichis capaV ble of a wide range of` usefulness.

A further object is to provide a device of the character stated which can be manufactored and sold at a reasonably low price, which can be easily operated by a child or adult andlwhich will afford pleasure, entertainment and profit to the user.

With these. and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel `features of construction, and combinations and arrangements of parts as will bemore fully hereinafter described` and pointed out in the claims,`

In the accompanying drawings- Figure l` is a perspective view illustratinfr our improve picture constructor.

igure `2 1s a view in longitudinal section through the center of the casing on the line 2-2 ofFigure 6, showing the parts in the interior in elevation.

Figure Slisa perspective view` of one of the reels 9.

Figure 4. is a perspective view, partly in section, of one of the guide rolls 19.

l. yFigure 5 is a perspective view of one of the reell locking strips 12. `Figure is a view in through the` center of the` device.

Figure 7 y is a` view in transverse section on` the line, 77 ofrFigure 2.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Application led October 20, 1920.

horizontal section i Patented May 9, 1922.

Serial No. 418,257'.

p Figure S is an enlargedy view partly in elevation. and partly in section on the line 88 oi? Figure 6.

Figures 9 and 1d are brolren views illustrating certain olf the picture forming strips 18.

Il represents the casing oit our improved picture constructor which is preferably ci? general elongated oblong shape having rounded ends and having a top 2 with a tra sparent light-admitting window 3 secured in the central intermediate portion thereofl2 in any approved manner. The top 2 o 'l casing l is made with a series ol.l openings 4l; at its respective ends, these openings being in alignment and adjacent the respective sides of the casing for a purpose whichwill more fully hereinafter appear.

One side oit the casing, which constitutes` the iront, provided with a window or opening 5 through which the operator views the picture.

6 represents the base of the casing which is independent ot the casing and is provided at its ends with spring catches 7 adapted to engage in openings 8 in the ends `oil" the casing and removably secure the base und casing together. The base G .supports at its respective ends and in parallelism and adjacent the side edges thereoiE a plurality of series ot reels 9, one ot which is shown in perspective in Figure 2l.

The reels 9 have trunnions .l0 at their lower ends mounted in openings or bearings 1&2 in the hase 6, and said trunnions have reduced portions 11 whiclfi are engaged by and normally locked in operative position in their hearings by means of longi tudinally movable strips 12. These strips 12 are movable in longitudinal slots 13 in the base 6 and have therein slots or openings 141. These slots or openings 14- are oi? general. keyhole shape, hence, they are oit a width at one end suiiicient to permit/the move ment therethrough and the removal of the trunnions l0. The other ends o'l' the slots or openings lil4 are relatively narrow so that when the strips are moved to their extreme inner posit-ion, these narrower portions of the slots will engage the narrower or restricted portions l1 of the trunnions 10 and will lock the reels against vertical lnovement in the base.

The strips 12 are preferably provided with operatingl tongues 15 at their outer ends Which extend outside of the casing 1, so that they can be conveniently operated. The reels 9 at their upper ends are provided with turnbuttons or fingerholds 16 which project through the openings 4: above referred to, and are in convenient reach of the operator to conveniently turn the reels.

The reels 9 are preferably made With longitudinal slots 17 for the accommodation of the ends of flexible strips 18, as this is a convenient means of connecting the strips to the reels, 'but it is, of course, obvious that various other means might be employed for connecting the ends of the strips to the reels.

It is to be understood that We employ a strip 18 for each pair of reels, the reels of the respective pairs being located at the respective ends of the casing, so that by turning one or the other of these reels, the strip can be moved in either direction.

The intermediate portions of the strips are maintained in alignment by means c-f a plurality of spacing rolls 19, one of which is shown in Figure t. These rolls are preferably of very small tubes supported on shafts 2O secured in the base 6.

The intermediate portions of the strips are located between a backing plate 21 and an open frame 22 and are in alignment with the opening or Window 5 in the front of the casing so that they can be readily observed through said opening or Window.

The strips 18 are, as above stated, of ieXible material and are preferably transparent and hence, celluloid may be conveniently employed as a material to con struct the strips, but it is obvious that the invention is not limited to the particular material employed.

The strips 18 contain scenes, landscapes, figures, or any other designs, which may cooperate to form a complete picture, and We would have it understood that hereinafter We shall refer to these designs, figures, scenes, or any other picture forming elements as characters, employing this term in its broadest sense to indicate any representation.

The characters on the strips 18 are preferably opaque, so that when the strips are moved, these opaque characters can be arranged as desired to form a complete picture. The characters on one of the strips k.18 represent skies, and this sky containing While, of course, the particular arrange ment of such scenes can be varied Without departing from our invention, we preferably locate the strip showing the sky character at the eXtreme rear with the scenes, forcgrounds, animals, etc., in respective order in front of the same, so that an operator can first arrange the sky to suit himself, then the scenes, then the foreground, and then locate the animals, people, etc.` in front of the same.

It is obvious With a device of this character that a Wide latitude is given to the in genuity of the operator to form pictures. These pictures may be humorous or other- Wise and as it is probable that all of the strips Will not be needed to form certain pictures, it is deemed Wise to provide transparent portions at one or the other end of each strip so that these transparent portions may be located at the intermediate portion of the casing and permit the use of only the desired strips to be registered. By moving one or more films While others are stationary, the impression of motion can be imparted to the characters of the picture.

1t is, therefore, to be understood that We do not limit ourselves to the precise details set forth, but consider ourselves at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A picture constructor, comprising a series of movable aligned strips, each strip independently movable in both directions and having transparent portions and opaque illustrations thereon adapted to register With the illustrations of the other strips to form a picture.

2. A picture constructor, comprising a series of movable aligned strips, each strip independently movable in both directions and having transparent portions and opaque illustrations thereon adapted to register with the illustrations of the other strips to form a picture, said strips composed of HeXible material, and means for moving the strips independently.

3. A picture constructor, comprising a support, reels mounted in the suport, flexible transparent strips connecting the reels and adapted to be Wound in either direction from one reel onto another, and means holding said strips in alignment, said strips composed mainly of transparent material having opaque characters thereon.

4. A picture constructor, comprising a casing, a plurality of pairs of reels mounted in the casing and located adjacent the respective ends thereof, flexible transparentstrips connecting the reels and adapted to be Wound in either direction from one reel onto another, and guides between Whichvthe intermediate portions of said strips are sup- `ill ported and heldin alignment, said strips composed mainly of transparent material and having opaque figures thereon.

5. A picture` constructor, comprising a casing, a plurality of pairs of reels mounted in the casing and located adjacent the respective ends thereof, flexible transparent strips connecting the reels and adapted to be wound in either direction from one reel onto another, guides between which the intermediate portions of said strips are supported and held in alignment, said strips composed mainly of transparent material and having opaque figures thereon, a lightadmitting window in the top of the casing, and a strip exposing opening in the front of the casing.

6. A picture constructor, comprising a casing, a base removably located in the casing, a plurality of pairs of manually and independently operated reels sup orted at the respective'ends of the casing, nger receiving knobs on the upper ends of the reels projecting through the top of the casing,

' transparent strips connecting the reels at the respective ends of the casing, and guide rolls supporting the intermediate portions of said strlps and maintaining them in alignment, said strips having opaque characters thereon. 7. A picture constructor, comprising a casing, a base in the casing having bearings therein, reels mounted in the respective ends of the casing, trunnions having restricted portions at the lower ends oit the reels mounted in said bearings, locking `strips mounted in the base and having slots receiv ing the restricted portions of said trunnions, said slots having openings Which are at one end large enough to permit the removal of the trunnions and at their other ends are of such reduced Width as to engage the trunnions and hold the reels against removal from the base, and picture forming strips connecting the reels at the respective ends oi the casing.

8. A picture constructor, comprising a support, and picture forming flexible strips independently movable in both directions and supported at their intermediate portions in alignment, each strip having transparent and opaque portions and illustrations there- 0n adapted to register With other strips, whereby said strips cooperate to form a picture.

9. A picture constructor, comprising a support, a plurality of aligned picture for1nin devices, said devices independently movable in both directions, and certain of the said devices having transparent and opaque portions and illustrations thereon adapted to register With other of said devices, whereby said devices may be operated to 'form various assemblages or pictures.

PIERRE A. RONTEY. ROBERT TAYLOR. 

